Makeup Idea: Electric Eye Liner

When we first started seeing shocks of brightly colored eyeliner on the Spring 2011 runways, I have to admit I was skeptical. Could this trend actually be work in real life without looking completely kooky? The answer is yes. At Allure, we've been experimenting with the newest makeup for spring as we plan our upcoming issues, and are delighted to find that some of the craziest shades can work even when pulled off the catwalk.

We first got the idea a few months ago when a makeup artist rimmed the inner corners of beauty director Amy Keller Laird's eyes with a lime green eye liner pencil. Expecting it to look wacky, Laird was surprised at how it brought attention to her eyes in an unexpected way. Then last week, I tried tracing my upper lash line with the same shade, using a Nars product that is out in March (to get the look now, try CoverGirl Liquiline Blast Eyeliner in Green Glow). What do you know—it was pretty! Using a thick line, the effect was an update of the mod look. And it passed the boyfriend test too: He didn't hate it, which is usually a sure sign that my makeup has crossed the line from experimental to just plain nuts.

That next day, contributing editor Meirav Devash painted on her signature cat eye, but in an electric shade of cobalt using Milani Infinite Liquid Eye Liner in Infinite. (She recommends the color but not the formula—it was difficult to brush on in a precise line). Worn with fresh skin and soft pink lips, the vivid hue drew all the attention to her eyes, making it an eye-catching alternative to basic black.

These vibrant shades aren't very work appropriate (unless you're a beauty editor!), but they're fun to play around with on the weekends. In the next few weeks, we're looking forward to trying out liners in primary yellow and orange, copying the looks we saw on both the Peter Som and Derek Lam Spring collections here in New York. Stay tuned to see the results!